1
as in hissed
to make a sound like that of stretching out the speech sound \s\
with their satin costumes swishing, the little ballerinas chasséd onto the stage
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in flapped
to move from side to side or up and down with quick jerky motions
the horse's tail swishes after every jump
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of swished
Knueppel came out hot and swished his first three shots beyond the arc and ended up tossing in 34 points, connecting on 10 of 16 attempts and going 8 for 12 from 3-point range.
—
Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 30 Jan. 2026
Allen swished a 3 with two seconds to spare.
—Doug Haller, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
Jamar Brown swished a 3-pointer from the corner and scored a layup off an inbound pass.
—Aaron Heisen, Daily News, 11 Jan. 2026
Anthony Edwards became the third-youngest player in NBA history to reach 10,000 career points, when the Minnesota Timberwolves star swished a 13-foot fadeaway jumper from the baseline midway through the fourth quarter against Cleveland on Thursday night.
—CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
The sophomore forward swished back-to-back three-pointers to kick off the second half at Simmons Bank Arena in North Little Rock.
—Matt Byrne, Arkansas Online, 9 Dec. 2025
The ball swished through the net at the buzzer.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Dresses swished and dress shoes clacked against the floor as couples danced for bragging rights in one of the biggest celebrations of Black culture in KC.
—Alexa Stone
updated October 21, Kansas City Star, 21 Oct. 2025
There was plenty of experimentation, too, seen via the shimmering tops in punchy shades like Big Bird yellow and flaming vermilion red, and the tinsel skirts that swished in all directions as models walked to a custom soundtrack by the British artist Steve McQueen.
—Kati Chitrakorn, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2025
Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 30 Jan. 2026
Allen swished a 3 with two seconds to spare.
—Doug Haller, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
Jamar Brown swished a 3-pointer from the corner and scored a layup off an inbound pass.
—Aaron Heisen, Daily News, 11 Jan. 2026
Anthony Edwards became the third-youngest player in NBA history to reach 10,000 career points, when the Minnesota Timberwolves star swished a 13-foot fadeaway jumper from the baseline midway through the fourth quarter against Cleveland on Thursday night.
—CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
The sophomore forward swished back-to-back three-pointers to kick off the second half at Simmons Bank Arena in North Little Rock.
—Matt Byrne, Arkansas Online, 9 Dec. 2025
The ball swished through the net at the buzzer.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Dresses swished and dress shoes clacked against the floor as couples danced for bragging rights in one of the biggest celebrations of Black culture in KC.
—Alexa Stone
updated October 21, Kansas City Star, 21 Oct. 2025
There was plenty of experimentation, too, seen via the shimmering tops in punchy shades like Big Bird yellow and flaming vermilion red, and the tinsel skirts that swished in all directions as models walked to a custom soundtrack by the British artist Steve McQueen.
—Kati Chitrakorn, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swished
Verb
-
The heaters hissed and clanked, let off steam, fogged up the windows.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Dec. 2025
-
Many more dogs licked the cat than the opposite, and more felines ignored, ran away, and hissed at the dog than vice versa.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
But Chelsea — and Garnacho — responded again, the Argentina international reducing the arrears again after some Kepa had flapped at a cross.—
Simon Johnson,
New York Times,
14 Jan. 2026
-
A little way down the bank, a hoatzin flapped awkwardly in dense foliage.—
Stanley Stewart,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The sixth-tier side doubled their advantage shortly after the hour mark as a deflected effort fell into the path of Buckley-Ricketts, who adjusted his body and flicked past goalkeeper Walter Benitez.—
Ali Rampling,
New York Times,
10 Jan. 2026
-
The suspect poured gasoline on the girls as well as both officers, flicked a lighter and set the room ablaze.—
Angie DiMichele,
Sun Sentinel,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The door swung open on the second ring, and I was quickly ushered inside.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Jan. 2026
-
But then Goetz swung back around, assumed a combat stance, and began firing.—
Heather Ann Thompson,
The Atlantic,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Baby Briana’s arms twitched and legs flopped against cold concrete.—
Jayme Fraser,
USA Today,
4 Feb. 2026
-
The bonito’s body twitched until Yamasaki slid a thin metal wire down the column of its spinal cord, a second step called shinkei jime, which arrests its nervous system.—
Hannah Goldfield,
New Yorker,
19 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Tyla’s glam included bobbed hair and cornrows with bold makeup, featuring smokey eyes.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Gaines, Sneako, Fuentes and Clavicular all sang along to the song, while Tristan Tate bobbed to the rhythm and Andrew was out of frame.—
Joseph Strauss,
Sun Sentinel,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Major League Baseball wagged a finger with one hand and palmed gate receipts and a new TV deal in the other.—
Jeremy Collins,
The Atlantic,
12 Dec. 2025
-
The once-weak puppy woke up with new energy—and even wagged her tail for the first time.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Aisha jerked and opened her eyes.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The two stood nose-to-nose on the field when the Steelers player grabbed onto Chase’s facemask, jerked his head and appeared to punch him.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
16 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Swished.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swished. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.
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